adminsmuggling goods worth US$7 000 through Beitbridge Border Post has been fined US$4 120.
Maxwell Chaminuka (35) who is attached to the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) abandoned his vehicle when he had been cornered.
However, his freedom was short-lived when he was arrested by Zimra officials from the anti-smuggling unit.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to three counts of contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act by Beitbridge magistrate, Mrs Auxillia Chiumburu.
Chaminuka was fined US$4 000 or three years imprisonment for the main charge of smuggling and a further US$100 for obstructing a public official from executing duties and US$20 or 10 days in prison for causing malicious damage to property.
A further three months were wholly suspended on condition that he pays New Limpopo Bridge Company (NLB) US$20 for the damage of the boom gate by October 30.
The smuggled contraband was forfeited to State as part of the sentence.
Charges are that on May 11 this year at around 4.30 pm, Chaminuka arrived at Beitbridge Border Post from South Africa driving a Toyota Toyace truck. The truck was laden with a consignment of beer, assorted groceries and other goods.
He underwent all the immigration and customs procedures without declaring the goods.
Chaminuka proceeded to the exit gate where he was intercepted by a customs officer from the anti smuggling unit who wanted to conduct a physical examination of his vehicle.
Upon being confronted, Chaminuka drove off at high speed and hit the boom gate.
Zimra officials pursued and caught up with him after his car got stuck in sand in one of the link roads in the border town.
He got off the car and disappeared into the bush but later turned himself to the police.
The truck and the contraband worth US$7 269,32 were recovered on the scene.
Online Reporter